The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-04-28
Mexican Dudes.

At certain hours of the day and in
certain portions of the more fashion
ably frequented streets the way is lined
with a variety of sidewalk statues, who,
for smartness Of attire and vapidity of
countenance, viii compare not unfa-
vorablv with the glorious American
dude. They are known among the dis
cerning Mexicans-whO are masters of
the art of terse and graphic classifca-
ton with regard to salient points-as
lagartiios, or lizards, from the tenacity
with which they hug the walls along
the narrow sidewalks. while they ogle
the ladies going to or from church or
the promenades. These lizards have
an amiable habit of making, with the
utmost composure, in a perfectly audi
bic voice, highly complimentary OBJ
seryations concerning such members of
the fair sex as may be fortunate enough
to meet with their critical appreciation.
..Sweetnessrn ssWhat a dear darlingr'
How / love you, precious blonde!"
Come here, pretty thing, and kiss
met Such are some of the refined
and chivalric modes of address prac-
tieed by these young-and not always
yOung-dandies. Also, if thev can
muster a few words of English, they
are fond of delivering them for the
bentit of women of foreign appearance
at 4 severe penalty, rs will be seen.
These amenities are called, in the ex-
pressiye language of the country,
throwing flowers" The manikins
really mean no offense by the habit,
but rather consider it delicate atten-
ton and a tribute due to the presump-
tive charm of the fair, the custom being
another disagreeable relic surviving
from the Objectionable phases Of the
Spanish regime. The usage is happily
lessening, and no doubt will soon be
obsolete.
II is curious and characteristic to OBJ
serve how differently the habit is re-
garded by the ladies Of different ma
tons. The Spanish women resident in
Mexico complain that these gallantries
are not sufficiently pronounced, and
declare that Mexican men are cold
blooded reptileS-.'perfect sticks" in
short, with the very tamest ideas as to
making their attentions impressive and
acceptable to ladies; the Mexican wo-
men endure the impertinenccs as an
atfiiction, offensive and lowering to
their dignity, but one which they are
impotent to avoid, thanks to the sub
missive attitude of femininity in the
country. American women in Mexico
often do not understand enough Span
ish to know the import of these speeches,
but, when they do understand it. it
goes hard with the offender He is
sure to receive some token of resent
ment, if only a scowL Two cases are
on record of irate damseIs-one, it goes
without saying, was a strong-minded
Bostonian lass-whO in the might of
their righteous Indignation at what
they deemed deliberate insult. laid
across the faces Of the culprits a sue
cession of vigorous whacks with
parasol But perhaps the most effect
ire eNtinguisher is that employed by a
California young lady. She knows
Spanish like u native, and when she
hears observations from the dandies
directed toward herself she walks up
to the nearest policeman, points out
the de 7quent, and says: at is
against the police regulations to permit
insult to foreigners. You will have the
goodness to take that man in charge"
And she stays near to see that the
gendarme complies. She has made
herself considerable of a terror to the
lagartiios, and the Mexican ladies COM
mend her course, realizing that such
treatment goes far to correct the abuse.
Pohre- lagarlijos. their type must be
extinct ere many years.-Clty o. Mcrico